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Reading's new £20million railway station is now set to open later this year - after being hit by a number of delays. Reading Borough Council says 'significant progress' has been made towards the opening of Reading Green Park Station, with the physical construction expected to be complete by the end of the month (July).

Construction for the long-anticipated station has been underway since Spring 2019 but was hit significantly by the coronavirus pandemic. Green Park Station was initially meant to open by the end of 2021.

However, it was pushed back because of Covid and Brexit due to material shortages. The project is being led by Reading Borough Council, in partnership with both Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR).

Green Park Station will sit on the Reading to Basingstoke line and will be served by half-hourly service north to Reading and south to Basingstoke throughout the day. The station also features two 150-metre platforms which have disabled access and a multi-modal interchange with a surface-level car park.

Motorists will be able to park their car in one of its two car parks, which will have 12 blue badge spaces and drop-off parking. There will also be bus stops, taxi ranks and cycle parking available.

Before the station can welcome its first trains and passengers, a' detailed commissioning and safety validation process needs to be carried out'. The opening is hoped to alleviate queues on the busy A33 by offering an alternative mode of travel.

It is also expected to improve accessibility to the south Reading area where large-scale development is currently underway, such as the expansion of Green Park Business Park and Green Park Village.

Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “I’m delighted the construction of the new Green Park Station will be complete in July. We have faced challenges on the schedule from material shortages, but the completion of the building work is a significant step forward.

“When operational, Green Park Station will form an integral part of Reading’s ever-growing sustainable transport infrastructure with more homes, businesses and leisure developments planned in the south of the borough. It will also be another option for football fans heading to the Stadium on match days, again taking the pressure off our busy roads.”

GWR Business Development Director, Tom Pierpoint, said: “It’s exciting to see Reading Green Park Station taking shape. We are working closely with the Council and Network Rail to deliver half-hourly services, better connecting the communities we serve.

“Reading is a key destination on our network and this new station will help to secure the economic prosperity of the region as we seek to build back better from the pandemic.”

Retrieved from ：https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-green-park-station-set-24400292 (5 July, 2022)

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